The Prophet has spoken
The last time the US hosted a World Championship, it was for the Cyclocross and it was totally badass. But potholes are part of the fun in CX; we’ll have to see how a speeding peloton deals with them.
My Pedalwan Nephew will be roadside watching this weekend in Richmond, and I have to say I hate him a little bit for having that opportunity at such a young age; he better be wearing Velominati gear or I’m disowning him. I also now realize in a face-palm moment that I should have sent him the V-Flag. What day is it? Can I still overnight it? Is that even worth it?
Ok. Back on message. I really hope the police don’t shoot any of the riders, or arrest the peloton for speeding. Assuming that doesn’t happen, I suggest you meditate on the start list, pull a few aces out of your sleeve, and lay down your picks. Good luck!
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@chris
For me, this ties together a lot -- a joyous and inspired win, speaking to the world's responsibility to care for refugees, and the need to "be here now," whether that's going into the woods instead of going online or to riding to take joy in life instead of riding to make our stats.
The bike is a huge source of inspiration to me, in part because when we shut the laptop and turn off our phones and just ride, then your focus narrows and it's all about the climb, or making the next turn, and the banality of day to day worries fades away... and really, when we remove that clutter and live life in the moment, we can get to what's really important and strive to get that right.
Riding, late summer.
Nothing but the wind, my breath,
and the cicadas.
@LawnCzar
Everything you say is true and right but this bit made me chuckle. I recently got a new Garmin, a 520 which displays notifications of phone calls, texts and emails if you pair it with an iPhone and possibly certain Android phones. I have a Windows phone as that's what work provides me with.
On Sunday I rode with my club. It turned out that we had too many people for one B group not enough for a social (C group) and as I'd turned up just in time to ride I found myself in the second, slower, of the two groups which included a few people who would normally have ridden in the social group. Progress was not quick but it was a nice day with good company so I completely lost track of time until we about 30 km from the end at which point the two slower members had decided to drop themselves and continue alone.
From that point I pushed the pace as much as I could and took some big turns on the front but when I got back to the finish there were numerous missed calls and a txt asking where I was. I'd been expected home some time earlier and still had about 45 minutes to ride to get home.
Sometimes turning off the phone and riding can cause no end of trouble!
@chris
What you say is also true and right as well -- with great power comes great responsibility.
It reminds me of one of the last ride a buddy and I took together before he moved out of the area -- we hit some favorite climbs, noodled a bit, tried for one last PR now and again, caught onto a random shop ride that happened by, that sort of thing... just enjoying the day's adventure... and then I got not one but two flats and he ended up getting home way later than he needed to.
We had to scuttle dropping by a local brewery's growler hour on the way home, too. That's insult to injury.
It was a great ride, though.
I've always liked Sagan for his amazing abilities and joie de vivre on the bike. I was a bit worried that after the goofy victory salutes and pinchygate that we were going to see a true talent marred by stupid antics. Boy was I wrong. His post WCRR win interviews are a real antidote to the likes of Froome et al who are so calculating in everything they do. More power to him. If he puts his mind and legs to the task, all the monumernts are within his grasp.
finally detoxing from the 6 day bender that was Richmond. Saw the ITT and all road races. We were parked out in front of the jumbo-tron on Sunday and I did my best to spin the phone around without taking my eyes off the screen.
Slovakian fan celebrating right after the finish on Sunday. Was pretty fitting that he is on the Belgians shoulders after Peter put the hurt on GVA on 23rd Street for the winning move.
I am thrilled about the prospect of a whole year of seeing Peter Sagan in the rainbow stripes. And what is more, every time I see him in the rainbows next year, I'll be able to tell my kids that we were there when he earned them. Anything I can do to try to get them into the sport at a young age...
Question for the group: What happens when the wearer of the rainbow stripes is also entitled to wear, for example, the Green Jersey at the TdF? Does he have to choose between the rainbow or the green? Or would they produce a special green-with-rainbows jersey for him? Or, for that matter, a polka-dot-with-rainbow jersey?
@MikeR
No, in a given race they have to wear the race competition leader jersey, whatever that may be.
@frank
Jersey looks canny...
But UCI obviously don't want him to look fabulous...
"Under UCI rules we can only have team issue shorts or white shorts. We haven't decided which Peter will wear yet but the rules mean he can't use black shorts."
White shorts FFS?!!
Finally got the photos from the VMHs phone. YeeHaw. Gianni, I'd say we were at the third corner. Entrance with a slight right, then a hard left, then this right. The awesome part was you could kinda see them enter Libby Hill, then they disappeared, and you had to wait to see them come around the barriers. Final lap...seeing Stybar emerge, chased by Degenkolb and then (I think?) GvA...man, that was the thrill of a lifetime!
These are all final lap. Farrar has blown up. Phinney has blown up. Stybar getting chased by Degenkolb. Sagan chasing Stybar & Degenkolb. Boonen coming through a few back. And one from the Women's Race. Evelyn Stevens at the front...with Sister in background! Enjoy.